Senate Democrats have failed in an initial attempt to secure support for overhauling the $11.1 billion water bond on the November ballot.

Senate Democrats have failed in an initial attempt to secure support for overhauling the $11.1 billion water bond on the November ballot.

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Updated: 8:15 PM PDT Jun 23, 2014

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WEBVTT THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. A KEY TO TACKLE CALIFORNIA'S WATER SHORTAGE RAN INTO STRONG RESISTANCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND IT COMES AMIDST INCREASED PRESSURE TO REMOVE A BOND MEASURE THAT CRITICS SAY THAT IS LOADED WITH POLITICAL PORK. MIKE LUERY IS WITH US. YOU CAN EXPECT THAT FIGHTING IS ALL ABOUT MONEY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE USE OF DOLLARS FOR A WATER BOND DESIGNED TO REPLACE A RIVAL MEASURE THAT EVEN SUPPORTERS SAY IS FILLED WITH QUESTIONABLE SPENDING. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN QUESTIONABLE SPENDING. THE CAPITOL LAWN IS ROUND -- BROWN AND BONE DRY AS CALIFORNIA SUFFERS A DRUNKARD -- SUFFERS A DROPPED. -- DROUGHT. IT PROVIDES THE MOST VIABLE BOND PROPOSAL FOR 2014 THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE. REPUBLICANS PUSHED BACK ON THE PLAN, SAYING IT DID TOO LITTLE TO WORK WITH THE DELTA. WE HAVE TO DO WITH THAT ISSUE. DEMOCRATS WANT A STRIPPED DOWN BOND TO REPLACE THE ONE ON THE BALLOT, ONE THAT CRITICS SAY IS FILLED WITH PORK, INCLUDING $100 MILLION FOR LAKE TAHOE BY CAROL'S -- LAKE TAHOE BIKE TRAILS. ANOTHER $20 MILLION FOR INTERPRETIVE RODRICK'S IN ORANGE COUNTY AND $10 MILLION FOR A CLIMATE CHANGE STUDY IN UC MERCED. HOW DO WE KNOW NO PORK IS INCLUDED FOR THIS MEASURE? IT IS OPEN TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND IT HAS BEEN IN PRINT FOR DAYS. A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT IT TOOK TO GET THE VOTES LAST TIME TO GET TO A 2/3 MAJORITY ARE NOT IN THERE. WE ARE KEEPING IT BASIC. IT IS LARGE BECAUSE CALIFORNIA'S WATER NEEDS ARE SO VAST. THE BOND CONSIDERS TUNNELS NEUTRAL, WITH THE PROMISE OF THE TWIN TUNNELS PROJECT. TO TRANSPORT WATER FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WHICH A RECENT POLL FOUND TO BE A POISON BILL. NO, BLOCK. IN THE END, DEMOCRATS WITH RESUSPENDED SENATORS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH VOTES. WHAT IS LEFT FOR BOATERS IN NOVEMBER IS AN OLD WATER BOND THEY CAN REJECT OR APPROVE. IT IS THE ONE THAT THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED IN 2009. IT HAS BEEN PULLED OFF THE BALLOT TWICE BECAUSE OF CONCERNS IT COULD NOT PASS VOTER MUSTER. MIKE LAURIE, KCRA 3 NEWS. IS THE WATER BOND MEASURE TRULY DEAD? LEGISLATURES HAVE A BIT OF TIME, THREE DAYS, UNTIL THERE IS A DEADLINE TO GET A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CLOCK IS

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Clock ticking for new California water bond

Senate Democrats have failed in an initial attempt to secure support for overhauling the $11.1 billion water bond on the November ballot.